Hey guys! I’m tired of being on break LOL. Let’s say we get the next show on the road, shall we?
Many of you have expressed an interest in diving into one of my stories but, a.) you don’t know where to start, or, b.) you’re intimidated by the number of chapters to catch up on. I totally feel you guys on both fronts. I too get overwhelmed by a mountain of chapters to climb. I’m gonna help you out!
Delicious Dishes & Dreams, affectionately known as “3D Pruetts,” is the only story I have left to complete, so why not join me the last journey? If you are a bookworm and want to read all 113 chapters, be my guest! I will cheer you on from the sidelines. For everyone else, I will spend the next few weeks catching you up!
First, I will introduce the characters. After you’re familiar with who is who, I will highlight the major events leading up to where we will pick up. These posts might contain spoilers for Pruett Family Legacy, so if that was on your bucket list, read with caution though I will alert you ahead of time. I will try to keep those to a minimum. Sound good? I hope so! If you have questions along the way, hit me up. I’d love to hear from you.
Here we go!!
Read a brief synopsis of the story under the cut.
Synopsis
I created a restaurant challenge when Dine Out came out. Because I am a storyteller, I had to play this challenge through a story! At first, I didn’t want it to be “a thing.” But, if you’re also a storyteller, you know it always turns out to be “a thing!” The challenge part of the story has been mostly abandoned as many story arcs have set in.
In a nutshell, a restauranteur is supposed to open and maintain 5 restaurants (there were only 5 worlds at the time) according to a set of rules. Jonathan Pruett is my restauranteur, and he was also my legacy’s last heir. His dream in that story was to open restaurants all around the world. This story is pretty much an alternate ending of the legacy where he opens up said restaurants. (In EA like fashion, Dine Out released just months AFTER my legacy ended!) Jonathan has challenges to overcome and is haunted by the ghosts of his past on this journey to fulfill his dream. The legacy serves as a backdrop of the story, but it’s not necessary to read previously. Everything that happened in the legacy is either explained or hinted at quite strong. You shouldn’t feel in the dark about anything, but if you do, just ask and I’ll be glad to explain.
The challenge rules are open a restaurant, get it up to at least 3.5 stars, and max out the staff’s skills before opening the next. All restaurants should maintain 3.5 stars or higher throughout the challenge or your progress will be stalled and you should return to the delinquent restaurant and get it back up to code. I find that maxing out the employees’ skills is much harder than getting to 3.5 stars, so most times people get to 5 stars when it’s time to move on. I’m loosely obeying these rules and am more concerned with the story now than the challenge.
Penny is an Internet personality and lives in San Myshuno with her longtime boyfriend, Sven Oppenheimer. She is the older sister of up-and-coming movie star Kayla Flemming and Maya Pruett’s BFF.
Background
Penny was born to Patrick “Pat” and Sarah Flemming. She lived a complicated life as an only child for about half her life. Sarah was an aspiring actress. Her pursuit of fame caused her to be in and out of Penny’s life throughout her childhood. Sarah had a best friend named Samantha (“Sam”) who took care of Penny and Pat while she was away at her request. Penny liked Sam well enough, but she was no substitute for her mother. As Penny neared her teenage birthday, her mother’s absence loomed over the Flemming residence like a dark shadow. Sam came around more often to help keep the gloomies away, she said. Penny could take care of herself, and Pat didn’t need help either, but Sam practically lived there. Penny never suspected a thing until Sam turned up pregnant, and Pat explained what had been going on. She was hurt though she understood how it could happen. Her mother acted like she didn’t care for them, but they were still married. Sarah came home a few weeks after the announcement. Penny hid in her room as they fought. The next morning, Sarah told Penny she was leaving for good.
Teenage life was rough as she adjusted to all the emotional changes that came with being a teenager on top of dealing with her parents breaking up, not being the only child anymore, and learning to let Sam back in. They used to get along, and Penny liked her a lot, but she pulled away when her mother left. Sarah didn’t contact Penny much which left a hole in her life. If she got famous, maybe Sarah would notice and contact her. That’s when she named herself Penny Pizzazz and started her YouTube channel; becoming an actress was too much work and so 90s. The channel was successful quickly, and by the time she graduated, she already had a job lined up with the hottest streaming media company in the industry. They wanted her to take the skills she used to build her channel and help them with their social media. For a while, she enjoyed it and was very successful. She got the fame she wanted, but Sarah never contacted her and got a lot of negative press about the bad habits she fell into. Coincidentally, the company—Sim.tv—began imposing on Penny’s life. After a few promotions, she became the face of the company, and they wanted her to look a certain way, watch where she went and who she hung with. The pressure crushed her. Around this time, she met Maya Pruett.
They knew of each other from Simstagram but never met. One afternoon, they ran into each other in San Myshuno and clicked immediately. There was something special about Maya. They got close quickly, and she felt like they had known each other all their lives. She admired her because she was such a free spirit like she used to be. Between hanging out with her, struggling to forgive Pat and Sam, struggling with feelings of abandonment still, and the pressure at work, Penny decided she needed to stop worrying about everyone else and do what’s right for herself. The first thing she did was cut her hair. She always wanted to go natural, but the network frowned upon it. At first, they tried to go with it, but she lost the “aesthetic” they were looking for. They couldn’t fire her without a lawsuit, of course, so they reassigned her back to the social media department. Coincidentally, Maya got promoted and took her position shortly after; she got her a job months prior. Maya was ecstatic and more than glad to do what Penny was not willing to do, and she was glad for her.
(Read more about Penny’s life under the cut!)
The months following were transformative. She took time off to do some soul-searching and let go of the past. She forgave her parents and Sam, reconnected with her little siblings, quit her job, and got back to her YouTube channel. Her audience was so glad to have her back and loved the new Penny. She did vlogs about being your authentic self and tips on how to find true happiness. But, Penny will always be Penny and give her audience the 411 on the hottest happenings and spots in San Myshuno.
Maya was the best friend Penny ever had. Throughout their friendship, they met new friends and had a nice group of people to hang and party with. All Penny wanted was to have fun with people she liked. But naturally, some people in the group began pairing up. While she was happy for them, she didn’t trust that she was cut out for it. One such pairing was Sven and Logan.
Penny thought he was funny and had a cute accent being from Windenburg and all, but that was it. She was happy for them and thought nothing of it. But, they’re little romantic experiment didn’t work out. Penny was closer to Sven than Logan and called to check on him one day. They had dinner and caught up. Something strong brewed between them, and Penny was not ready for it. She went home confused. They were friends, and he just broke up with someone. And, he wasn’t her type. For a while, she tried to deny what she felt, but soon she couldn’t deny it anymore. Still, she remained guarded. After all, she was the rebound. Or, so she thought. Sven eventually gathered the courage to share his feelings. He had a thing for her for a while and only went out with Logan because he knew Penny wasn’t interested. He called it off because it wasn’t fair to Logan. Learning this lifted a burden off Penny’s shoulders. She wasn’t the rebound! Logan was...kinda.
When the news of their relationship spread, things were awkward between the three of them whenever the group hung out. Logan never did or said anything to Sven or Penny, but she didn’t have to. It was all in the way she looked at him. Penny knew she was still hanging on and was not comfortable being around her.
They stepped away from the group. This began a domino effect within the group. Another friend had recently gotten married and stopped hanging out too. Maya met Ranveer and saw them less. It was just a matter of time before they drifted apart. They were all close in age and at the point where everyone began planning their futures and wanted to find that special someone.
Penny has not maintained friendships with anyone except Maya; it felt like playing with fire. She and Sven are loving their new life together and are planning their own future. She has a feeling he’s gonna propose soon!
Personality & Fun Facts
Penny is a city girl through and through. One day, she’ll leave the city to start a family, but San Myshuno will always be home in her heart.
She loves a good party and a strong drink. That’s kind of how she and Maya bonded initially. Her drink of choice is Dim & Gusty, and she can’t understand how Maya downs those sweet, fruity drinks. She says they are girly girly just like her.
Speaking of girly girly, Penny wouldn’t describe her style as girly. She would say it is tastefully feminine and chic.
Penny has always been a small woman, but she can put away some food and loves a good steak and a glass of good red wine.
Traditionally, her favorite color has been black, but as of late she’s been enjoying lighter, fresh colors like sage, lavender, and khaki. Maya tells her it’s because she let love into her life.
She loves a good, cheesy romance flick which is just another thing she and Maya connected on.
Here are some little known facts about Penny: She loves to cook. She also is a closet geek and loves video games and programming. and mainly uses her programming skills to make little apps and plug-ins to make her life easier. She’s also very funny and once thought about being a comedian but her days of being in a physical spotlight are over. She enjoys being Internet famous and the mostly private life she gets to enjoy.
Maya and Ranveer are two gorgeous, trendy, fun-loving people who created their own ship name for their totally Simstagram-worthy relationship. As cool as they are, they can be incredibly corny together. It’s laughable, especially to them. They met officially at a karaoke bar, but he was familiar with her from Simstagram. He jokingly says he stalked her, but he was not a creeper. He was just a silent follower who appreciated her authenticity. She wasn’t the type to post pictures of her salad, working out at the gym, and whatever else women did to appear perfect. Maya posted pictures of herself getting out of bed in the morning, kissing her baby brother, dancing at clubs, and hanging with family and friends. She was a real person, and he loved that.
As much as Maya loves the spotlight, she swore she would never do karaoke. Why would she intentionally make a fool of herself knowing how famous she was? The last thing she needed was a video of her killing cats to go viral. As she watched her sister croon the audience, a beautiful stranger walked up to her and suggested they go next. She was so stunned by his beauty, she said yes despite the nerves. They sang, and to Maya’s surprise it was so much fun. At least Ranveer made it fun with his awful singing and exaggerated rendition of the song.
The romance festival was going on outside. Aubrey wanted to check it out and dragged Maya to the Sakura Tea station as soon as she put down the mic. She didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Ranveer but was relieved to find him later. They got to know each other a little bit and exchanged information. It was hard to not lean over and kiss him or flirt, but Maya kept the promise she made herself and went slow with Ranveer. The sexual tension was at an all-time high, and being around him was hard at times, but the slowness paid off a million times over. They built a beautiful, organic friendship before they discussed their feelings and agreed to put a title on their relationship.
Ranveer was the guy Maya always wanted: someone fun, sexy, FINE, but also a genuinely good person. He makes her feel like the luckiest woman in the world and is so grateful they met. His database of dad jokes could possibly be bigger than her father’s, and his humor is always so timely. But, sometimes she thinks he’s too perfect. So perfect, she probably brings him down. Maya never thought she was a bad person, but she knew she didn’t bring much to the table. She still lives at home at home because it’s comfortable and easy. Meals are prepared for her, and her mother still picks up after her and does her laundry. It’s like living with three butlers. Sleeping is one of Maya’s favorite hobbies along with watching TV (mostly sports, romance & drama), and partying. He lives on his own, is an excellent cook, keeps is home neat, works out religiously, and is wise beyond his years. Could he really love a couch potato who mostly acts before she thinks? That’s why she tries to hide her flaws and does whatever he suggests including going to the gym, hoping he’ll never find out what she’s really like.
Maya knows she will have to tell him about the laziness soon because she feels their relationship shifting into something deep...and permanent. But, she’s so afraid to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to her. But, how long can she go on like that? She loves the changes she’s seen in her body because of working out, but she can’t pretend to be someone she’s not forever.
Jonathan is a restaurateur from Willow Creek. He is happily married to Skyla and has two daughters, Maya and Aubrey, and one son, Oliver. They live in an upper-middle class neighborhood called Courtyard Lane. Jonathan is the youngest child, and only son, of Julian and Jeannette. His sisters, Juliette and Janessa, are twins.
Background
As a child, Jonathan spent many hours cloud gazing with his father who also had some weird attraction to cloud gazing. He also enjoyed reading with his mother. She told the craziest stories, and he later learned she made them all up. When he had his own children, he made up crazy stories for them too.
Jonathan lived in his sister Juliette’s shadow during childhood. She was a handful and a half! But, after his teen birthday, all the focus shifted to him for many reasons. His father had the “heir talk” and pressured him to keep his eyes open for his future legacy spouse. Jonathan was also very cute, and he knew it. To say he was feeling himself would be an understatement. (he has not grown out of this, fyi). Also, he was a spoiled brat and probably very bored. He started drinking, hanging out in clubs with his friends on school nights, and spending lots of money. His parents were not not happy with that behavior.
(Learn more about Jonathan under the cut!)
Jonathan is the 9th generation heir of the Pruett legacy. His grandfather was the one and only “Crazy Brady,” a celebrity personal trainer. His grandmother, Viviana (née Harmon), was a top-notch physician and surgeon. Before she joined the medical career, she was a world-class bodybuilder! She and Brady met at the gym and he trained her, heh. They once did a weight loss reality show together called Crazy Brady’s Boot Camp, and Viv served as a trainer and a nurse on the show.
Grandma Viv is the inspiration behind Jonathan’s culinary career; he named his first restaurant after her. Jeannette, his mother, was not much of a cook, and Viv enjoyed caring for her family in that way—esp. once the grandkids came along! At the beginning of her marriage, she knew nothing about cooking. Her sister-in-law, Alayna, taught her everything she knows. Jonathan fell in love with the care Viv put into the food and the way she never made dishes the same way twice. Meal times were an adventure he could not wait to embark.
Personality & Fun Facts
Jonathan is a goofball through and through just like his mother. Now that he is getting older, heckling his daughters is one of his favorite pastimes; he blames it on being an “old man.” He tries to heckle his wife too, but she can be so sensitive sometimes.
He’s also a crazy romantic like his father. He loves love, wants everyone to be in love, and can’t help but spread love. This attitude made him a lax parent as far as his daughters’ love lives go, but that doesn’t mean he won’t fight a plumhead in the street if they mess with his princesses. Skyla was and is the girl of his dreams and still drives him wild. He pursues her every bit as hard as he did when they were dating as teenagers.
Jonathan is an extrovert and has big ideas but doesn’t always have the confidence to act on them. In times like that, he leans on Skyla. She encourages him like no one else can. He used to be bold and brazen, but the family drama sucked the confidence right out of him, and he has trouble trusting himself.
Jonathan may be a chef extraordinaire, but he’s also a pretty good mixologist. His favorite drink is Sea of Fire.
Much to Skyla’s chagrin, his favorite color is black. At least his wardrobe is mostly black. As far as his style goes, he likes to look “cool” and is obsessed with looking young and not seen as an “old man.” He teases his hair every day and keeps his beard trimmed to maintain a youthful appearance. Maya and Aubrey tease him about the “dad sweater” he often wears, but he says he makes it look cool. Ranveer, Maya’s hunky boyfriend, agrees.
Jonathan’s original goal in life was to own and operate restaurants all over the world. He had that goal until his oops baby son came along in the middle of his life. He has given that mantle over to his youngest daughter, Aubrey, and is only concerned about raising his son, spending time with Sky, and making sure his daughters are happy.
Jonathan loves a good party and throws one every chance he gets. Birthdays, holidays, small celebrations, whatever, he is quick to invite the family over and throw down on the grill. He is not the best dancer despite Pruetts being known for their moves, but he will cut a rug with the best of them.
People used to see him as the rich brat, but now they see him as just a fun guy who loves food and people. Some think he’s heroic because of how he sprang back from adversity. (more on that and the family drama later)
Aubrey and Julio also met as teenagers. She thought he was the cutest boy in school. His eyes were so light, they looked like shimmering pearls on his beautiful face. He had a cool haircut too. The cherry on top was that he wasn’t the typical rich jerk. He was kind and respectful, and there was nothing about him she didn’t like.
Julio admired Aubrey’s presence. It was almost regal. She walked with a purpose and a grin on her face. She was confident, driven, and was always thinking. And, she was gorgeous. As far as high school hierarchy goes, Aubrio and their friends were somewhere in the middle, but everyone knew Aubrey belonged at the top. Even the snotty kids at the top knew she belonged with them and were intimidated.
Everyone in school knew about the Pruett family drama except the parties involved. Tony and Jonathan both hid their pasts from their children, and it’s a miracle no one ever spilled the beans. However, Julio knew his father didn’t want him hanging with Aubrey but never told him why. So, these two young friends had this dark cloud hanging over them since the beginning.
They went to prom together, and Jonathan wanted to meet this mysterious boy his daughter was always texting. Good thing Julio looks nothing like Tony or we’d have a different story on our hands. Still, there was something familiar about him that Jonathan could never pinpoint. The day after prom, Jonathan hammered Aubrey with questions trying to figure it out. Finally, he asked his last name and was completely caught off guard. He stormed out of the house and upset Aubrey so much. But Aubrey was such a sweet child, she wasn’t upset because her dad didn’t like her friend/wannabe boyfriend. She was upset because her father was upset. Jonathan was always the number one person in her life, and she would do almost anything to make him happy.
Jonathan eventually came to terms this friendship and recognized that keeping their family history from his children was selfish. He eventually shared everything with Maya and Aubrey. Meanwhile, in Newcrest, Julio had his birthday and got the Corleonesi side of the story from his butler who was instructed to tell him after his birthday. Aubrey and Julio met soon after to compare notes and decide where they stood.
With Tony deceased and Jonathan open, there was no reason to end their friendship. After Aubrey’s birthday, she decided they should date. Learning about her family history and place in the new quasi legacy (the restaurant empire), she was determined to continue it—unofficially, of course. Having her own children to share the Pruett story and pass on the restaurant empire excited her. She and Julio were best friends, so who better to marry than him? The logic was sound even though the odds were stacked against them. The extended family frowned upon that union. Even random people in the street expressed displeasure. The Pruetts may not be the wealthiest family anymore, but they are still the most respected. People are very protective of the Pruetts. Still, Aubrey was determined to block out their dissenting voices and do what she thought was best for her.
Julio always wanted Aubrey but was hesitant to act. Who knows where their relationship would be if not for Aubrey’s prompting. He loved her but had his father’s voice in his head. Even without Tony’s echo, was dating Aubrey a good idea? Would the Pruetts ever accept him? Were they strong enough to silence the negative voices and rise above? He didn’t know.
One thing he did know, however, was how he felt about Aubrey and how she made him better. That’s how they accidentally got engaged. They were having a serious discussion about his behavior at dinner, and he got real deep into his feelings. Up until this point, he was still hesitant to be fully engaged in the relationship although they had been dating for a while. Everything he felt had been building up inside until he couldn’t hold it anymore and kind of blurted it out. He couldn’t take it back and didn’t want to, but it wasn’t right. Aubrey wasn’t the kind of woman who needed a big, flashy production, but she deserved more than an accidental admission of feelings. So, they kept it to themselves until Julio felt ready to have a proper conversation with Jonathan, get a ring, and the whole nine.
Aubrey is the perfect little angel. Skyla calls her “Sweetness,” and she is definitely a chip of mom’s block though her career path is completely because of her father. She is also a restaurateur and recently got unofficially engaged to her childhood bff, Julio Corleonesi.
Background
Aubrey has always known what she wanted to do with her life. She was born just before Viviana’s opened, and after attending the grand opening as a little girl, she was sold. She followed Jonathan around the restaurant wide-eyed and giddy, watching him greet everyone. She loved being around “big people” because it made her feel important. Upon arriving at home that night, she announced she would work in Jonathan’s restaurant one day...and she did. After school, she’d run across the street to Viviana’s eager to learn and serve. When she graduated, she stepped up when her mother stepped down to raise Oliver. After a short while, Jonathan felt she was ready to take the reins and began construction on a new restaurant for her to manage. She named it J. Pruett’s Grill after him.
(Learn more about Aubrey under the cut!)
As a teenager, she was very much into her studies. She took her homework everywhere and was never ashamed to whip it out (including prom night). She was well-mannered and focused her dream. Too focused sometimes. To become a better cook, she always prepared her own meals to get her skills up. But, she was such a perfectionist just like her mother and got upset over the tiniest mistakes.
Aubrey loves and respects her mother to the nth degree, but she is a diehard daddy’s girl. Jonathan’s feelings and opinions rank very high in her life, and she never wanted to upset him even at the expense of her own happiness.
Personality & Fun Facts
Aubrey’s favorite color is yellow. She has an extroverted personality, but she doesn’t crave attention like her sister. Aubrey just love to be around family and friends, and making her restaurant patrons happy is a joy. She is goal oriented and wants nothing more than to see her father’s dream realized. Jonathan knows he won’t be able to accomplish it, and she agreed to continue his dream of opening restaurants all around the world.
Aubrey is not a fashionista like her sister, but she cares about her appearance. Her style is more relaxed and traditional, but every now and then she wants to look trendy and a little sexy. She also inherited Jonathan’s romantic trait, but it presents itself differently than Maya. It’s more about how things feel on the inside than wanting to spread or experience love.
Hobby-wise, her life is a bit singular. She works much more than she needs to and finds herself looking for space to have fun with Julio. Ever since opening J. Pruett’s, the restaurant has consumed her life. Good thing her father is such a family guy and invites everyone over often. Otherwise, her social life would desperately need repair.
Her favorite holiday is Harvestfest because of the huge meal Jonathan makes. She can’t wait to marry Julio and invite the family over for Harvestfest and make her own huge meal.
Aubrey feels like Julio is the best person for her to marry because they are best friends, but deep down she isn’t 100% sure it’s the right thing. No one outside of her immediate family supports the relationship because of the family drama. It’s kind of a Romeo & Juliet situation. Still, she is determined to make it work.
Despite her extroverted nature, she isn’t the best communicator. She doesn’t like rocking the boat and has trouble dealing with her difficult employees. She also finds it hard to tell her family about her deep feelings which makes her come off as moody sometimes. Aubrey can be very snippy when she’s frustrated and has been known to blow up when she’s reached her peak.
Jonathan and Skyla have known each other since high school. Juliette invited her over after school one day, and Jonathan needed to ask Juliette a question about one of grandma’s recipes. He saw she had company and did not intend to interrupt. The girl’s appearance was a bit tattered with her plain clothes, worn shoes, and hair in a long messy ponytail. But then he saw her face, and the entire earth came to a screeching halt.
It was her eyes. They were beautiful but so sad. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her. She later told him she felt the same way when he asked if it was weird. They became inseparable, but Skyla was a bit hesitant. She may have spent a year in Appaloosa Plains and a few more years homeschooled, but she was an Oasis Springs native and familiar with the Pruett family. How was she able to capture the interests of not just any Pruett but THE Pruett heir?! She wasn’t even trying. Surely he would look for someone on the same level as he, not that there were many uber rich families around. She tried to pull back and keep him at a distance so he wouldn’t find out where she lived or what their financial status was, but he was already so in love with her and very persistent. To this day she has a hard time saying no to him.
They dated for the rest of his high school career, and at his YA birthday party, he gave her a promise ring in front of everyone.
Relationship Dynamics
Jonathan and Skyla have a very strong relationship. There isn’t much that could happen that would break them apart. They don’t even joke about getting divorced; it’s not an option. Breaking up this couple would be like taking away the moon or sun from the earth. Everything would crash and burn immediately, and life would cease to exist. They need each other like fish need water. Both see the other as the stronger of the two and knows they couldn’t survive without the other. They are each other’s favorite person and are perfectly fine with spending every day together never growing tired of each other’s company.
Jonathan’s Strengths
Jonathan is the daredevil, the fun guy, and the visionary. He has big ideas and sees far into the future. He is a devoted and committed partner and would rather watch the world go up in flames than see Skyla in peril. Back in the day when he opened his first restaurant, Skyla wasn’t doing too well. She was stressed out about getting the Pruett Estate remodeled, caring for her sick father, and trying to get pregnant. Depression pounced on her like a cat cornering a mouse. Jonathan had a business to run, but he came home every time she called. Eventually he got someone to run it so he could be home with her full time. Skyla always comes first. Not his kids. Not his money. Not himself. Skyla!
Jonathan’s Weaknesses
He knows how much stronger Skyla has gotten since the early days of their marriage, but sometimes he can’t help but see her as that dainty, depressed woman who constantly needed looking after. He’s not patronizing toward Skyla, but he is painfully aware of how she can get. He has been known to delay important conversations with his children simply to avoid Skyla getting upset. He also recognizes how his emotions affect her emotions and will hold back when he feels he could negatively affect her even when it’s important to be honest.
Skyla’s Strengths
Skyla is a nurturer, encourager, and a thinker. She abides by the rules and thinks of every possible scenario. She is also level-headed which comes in handy when Jonathan freaks out about their girls growing up. He is a naturally confident person, but the family drama destroyed that confidence. Skyla is there to build him up when he needs it. She is his constant and reminds him of who he is and what he’s capable of.
Skyla’s Weaknesses
Because she is constantly building him up, sometimes she withholds her feelings on matters to keep him from doubting himself. Oftentimes they disagree, but she doesn’t say anything to keep the peace. The most prominent example of this is Aubrey and Julio. Jonathan tries to rise above and only wants his daughter to be happy. If the son of his enemy is the one who does it for her, he will learn to accept him. Skyla is not like that and does not want them together, but she keeps these feelings to herself for both their sales.
Derek is Jonathan’s first cousin and best friend. Though Jonathan calls him “little cousin Derek,” he’s actually not that much younger than him. He is married to the most renowned interior designer known as OJenn who is actually @sim-thology‘s simself I borrowed ages ago, but MCCC kept her in the story and I’m so glad she’s related to the Pruetts now. (Wasn’t that a wonderful run-on? LOL) They also live in Willow Creek and have two children together, Madelyn and Zander. OJenn has another daughter named Sharon from a previous relationship with Lucas Munch. (Also compliments of MCCC lol)
His parents are Graham and Callie (née Pruett), and he has one younger sister named Chasity. He works in the criminal career, but Jonathan has no idea.
Background
Derek was a little terror growing up, and Jonathan is quick to remind him of this especially considering how bad his son is. He is the oldest and got away with everything because he was just too stinkin cute. When he was a little boy, his mother called him a ham. His boisterous personality has lost none of its spice, and wherever Derek is boredom must flee.
Callie, his mother and Jonathan’s aunt, was a good person. She was a perfectionist and very hard on him with his studies, but she was as sweet as she could be. Jonathan is also quick to point out how Derek and Chasity terrorized her with their childish pranks, fighting with each other, and their overall evil nature.
Derek and Jonathan are the only boys and became fast friends; they were basically brothers. When Derek had his teen birthday, he was excited and kind of nervous to hang out with Jonathan and his friends. He got teased a lot because he was the youngest, but that’s what boys do.
The family drama happened, and Derek felt terrible for his cousin. That whole situation brought the already close family closer. Derek can’t make Jonathan do anything, but if they stay close, maybe he could influence his decisions in case something else happens.
(More Derek under the cut!)
Though it pains him to hurt his little cousin, Aubrey, he does not and will never support her relationship with Julio and doesn’t understand how she could let herself get involved with him. If there is one ought he has with Jonathan, it’s this. If he would have shared the family drama & history with them early enough, Aubrey would have known who Julio was and could have been better prepared.
Personality & Fun Facts
Derek is not much of a family guy. He loves his wife, kids, sister, and Jonathan’s family, but he doesn’t branch out and build relationships with too many other Pruetts. He barely has relationships with his own nieces which is really sad because they don’t have relationships with their fathers.
Like Jonathan, Derek likes to look “cool” as he’s getting older. But, OJenn finally told him to get rid of that “tired jacket” and wear real clothes lol. Thankfully, she is the force in their house. With Derek at the helm, life would be chaotic.
Every now and then, he and Jonathan like to get away from home for some “man time.” They hang out at some bar, have drinks, and catch up. His favorite drink is Sunset Valley. Jonathan calls it a “sissy drink.”
His favorite food is mac & cheese, and everyone teases him for not having grown up tastes.
Derek has pretty radical political beliefs although he would never share them with the family. In secret, he admires his cousin Mark for being so loud and proud of conspiracy theories and plans to take down the government. Even being self-assured, he’s certain he could never do anything like that.
His favorite music and movies are hip hop and comedies. Sometimes his life feels like a comedy with everyone teasing him so much.
His greatest achievement is getting OJenn to say yes to marrying him, and his greatest regret is not being closer to Jonathan during his time of need.
